We have studied the desorption dynamics of vibrationally excited CO on Cu(0
01), induced by femtosecond pulses of visible light. The theory is based on
a density matrix approach and the propagation of wave packets using a basi
s of two electronic states and a model which includes the distance from CO
to the surface, and the displacement corresponding to a frustrated-translat
ion mode of the adsorbate vibration. The model incorporates potential energ
y surfaces from electronic structure calculations and contains dissipation
effects represented by complex potentials. Equations for density amplitudes
are solved nonperturbatively with a propagation procedure valid for large
light fluence values. The population of vibrational states of the adsorbed
CO were calculated versus time as it desorbs. Desorption yields are found t
o be more pronounced for initially excited vibrational states. Temperature
effects are considered for several initial thermal equilibrium distribution
s before the arrival of the light pulse.